Update

Seven years
Last week was me and Cort's 7 year anniversary. Hard to believe it's been seven years! 7 years, 3 kids later, and still going strong. I feel so blessed to have Cort in my life he truly is my best friend. He works so hard for our family and always has our best interest at heart.
Here's a couple pictures of us about eight years ago or so, I can't believe it's been that long. I remember when I was younger and eight years felt like an eternity, now I feel like I blink and eight years passes by.....


And here's one of us with Taylor when she was six weeks old. (still can't believe she's in kindergarten.)

For our anniversary Cort planned a little trip for us. We went up to Portland for the weekend while his parents stayed with our kids. It was a nice little break even though I missed the kids like CRAZY.
Cort sort of surprised me with tickets to Phantom of the Opera that first night and dinner at a resturant right on the water. The play was amazing! The special effects were incredible. Of course I forgot to take a picture, (I am so bad at taking pictures if it doesn't include our kids). However, I did have Cort stop by the theater so we could take a picture by the poster on our way out of town at 5am!
And here I am.....

The second day we went to the beach, did some shopping, had some fresh seafood and just enjoyed being together.
Cort really is quite a guy. I know I don't tell him that enough. I look forward to many more years with him. I am a lucky girl!!
Sick day
Well, a couple days after we got back poor Tally got pretty sick. He had a stomach bug of some sort I guess. I made him a little bed in the family room and put in a movie for him and he just laid there and watched it, which he NEVER does. Anyways, I thought this picture of him and Chase was so cute I had to post it. Chase was so concerned about him. What cute brothers.

Growing up
I love this picture of Chase. I took it right before he was about to go to one of his little buddies birthday parties. He was so excited to go. As I watched him get ready to walk out the door, I realized how big he was getting and that's when I decided we needed to take a picture to remember how I felt at that exact moment when I realized he really isn't a baby anymore, he's a little boy. Or as he would say "a big boy!!" Get it right mom!

Campout
The whole fam actually got to go to our ward's campout this year. We had a blast! Chase was totally in his element, as was Taylor. They are true campers for sure. There was a great big hill right by our camp sight that the kids climbed up and down I don't know how many times. We had hot dogs for dinner, roasted marshmallows, and slept in a tent. Honestly, does it get any better then that? Not in my kid's world! Ever since we got home, almost every night in Chase's prayer he thanks his Heavenly Father for the campout. I think it's safe to say we will be going a lot over the years.


Talan is one!
Tally turned one on August 27th. Once again I can't believe it! He was so cute at his little party. When we sang him happy birthday he just stared at us like we were crazy. It was hilarious. I got it on tape, I really need to learn how to upload videos. If anyone wants to teach me that would be great. Of course Tally enjoyed his cake. We had him eat it outside, good thinking on my part. He made a mess and as soon as he was done he crawled right over to the sandbox and started playing. He now plays peek a boo with us with him being the one who hides on his own. He's not walking yet, but he did take his first step at church today, but honestly he's really not that interested in it yet. He loves to eat just about anything, and makes all of us smile on a daily basis. I can't believe he's one. Happy Birthday little guy!!


And I am 32!!
I had the best birthday this year. I felt very humbled by everyone thinking of me on my big day. I truly do have some of the best people around in my life. What a blessing it is to be surrounded by such amazing people who are such wonderful examples to me. I really am so blessed in so many ways. As I look back on the last year of my life and think of all the many times and ways my Heavenly Father has blessed me I am overwhelmed. I am so grateful for the good times and of course even the bad times that have made me better and stronger. Thanks to everyone who made my day so special, it truly was because of all of you, here's to another great year!

Time flys

For those of you who have been concerned, no the Welkers have not fallen off the face of the earth, we are still here, just a little behind with the blogging world. I can't believe that we are already half way through August....I guess it's true what they say time flys when your having fun.
Here's some of the fun stuff we have been up too lately....
We went down to St. George a couple of weeks back and did some hiking, shopping, swimming, and just had a grand old time. Me and Taylor also went and saw the Sound of Music at the Tuccan theater down there. She couldn't take her eyes off the stage. If you have never been you MUST go. Here's a couple pictures of us hiking the red rocks down in St. George when we were there. The kids absolutely loved the hike, regardless of the fact that it was over 100 degrees! When we first got there Chase was hoping so hard that we would find a snake and of course no surprise to those who know me well, I was praying that we didn't!



However, we did find this little guy and one of his buddies on a bench that I almost had the kids sit on to take a picture. YIKES! Thank goodness I didn't! Cort actually saw him and I found his friend on the way back to the car.

We have also been doing a lot of swimming over the past two months too, the kids just simply can't get enough of it. Chase is our little dare devil, the phrase "no fear" comes to mind. He absolutely hates that I make him wear a life jacket when he sees that Taylor doesn't have to wear one. He just wants to be like his big sis in every way. I seriously think he'll be swimming before long.


Our little Tally has been going through a lot of big changes lately too. He is really turning into a little boy. He was leading the music in church yesterday. And he is now waving, pointing at things, giving kisses, saying mama, and dada, and he LOVES playing along side Taylor and Chase, (no big change there, no one can make him laugh like they do). However, probably my favorite thing he does is when he is all fussy and whining and I'll ask him if he wants a cracker or a drink and he'll stop crying and babble back at me, I swear he's trying to tell me that he does. I really need to get it on tape. Also, his new love is the hose in our yard. He will seriously sit and play with it forever. The other day he was outside playing with the hose, and eating crackers, when we brought him in he was a big wet mess, so Cort threw him in the kitchen sink and gave him a bath. He loved it. It was pretty cute stuff.

And of course, one of are most exciting news is that Taylor is now a big time kindergarter!! She started last week. I can hardly believe it! Even now when I drop her off I have to remind myself that yes she is old enough to be doing this. Her teacher is adorable and she is already having a lot of fun. I was driving around the other day and I was thinking about her starting school and I couldn't believe that it has already been FIVE AND A HALF years since we welcomed her into our family and lifes. She is my little gem! Here she is on her first day of school. She is such a poser, she loves to have her picture taken. I just know that she is going to have a great year.